Research

This section of the Website is under review….watch this space.

Funding was awarded to the Irish Uplands Forum in 2024 for the review of the status of rare upland plants in Ireland with a focus on Kerry and Wicklow. This review will be carried out by a consultant ecologist Dr Rory Hodd in August-November 2024. His first task is to identify relevant plant species. After that phase is over he will then be examining records to discover if their distribution has changed over the last 30 years.  We have a deadline for the end of November 2024 for this work. After his report is produced we plan to organise public meetings in Wicklow and Kerry to announce the results.

Challenges, Changes and Opportunities in the Irish Uplands

Challenges, Changes and Opportunities in the Irish Uplands During 2009 this IUF Research Project will investigate the current social, economic and environmental issues affecting landscapes and communities in three upland areas in Ireland

Research will be carried out in the:

• North Sligo / North Leitrim uplands
• The Comeragh Mountains
• The Twelve Bens and Benchoonas of North-West Connemara

The findings of this research will:

• Identify opportunities that could contribute to the future sustainable development of upland areas
• contribute to national policy development in the area of upland management
• inform the Irish Upland Forum’s future work programme.

This project is funded by the Heritage Council and the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs. Research findings will be presented at the Heritage Council’s Landscape Conference in October 2009.

The report is available below.

Challenges, Changes & Opportunities in the Irish Uplands – Contents

IUF 2010 Exec Summary

Challenges, Changes & Opportunities in the Irish Uplands – Full Report

Policy submissions

IUF participates in public consultation on matters relevant to upland areas. In 2008 IUF made a submission in response to the Green Paper on Local Government.

Download submission below.

IUF submission re Green Paper on Local Govt – July 2008

Protected area management

IUF is committed to investigating models for community involvement in the management of protected landscapes. As part of this work IUF made a study visit to Austria in 2008 to examine the Nature Parks model. A full report of the study is available.

IUF Austrian Study Visit report